Kathryn Grayson, 88, whose beauty and lilting soprano voice brightened such popular MGM musicals of the 1940s and '50s as "Anchors Aweigh," "Show Boat" and "Kiss Me Kate," died Feb. 17 at her home in Los Angeles. The cause of death was not reported.

While still a teenager, Ms. Grayson was placed under contract at MGM at a time when the studio was assembling a stable of musical talent that would dominate the era of great musicals.

Like Lana Turner, Esther Williams, Donna Reed and other MGM newcomers, Ms. Grayson was given a tryout as Mickey Rooney's sweetheart in the studio's popular Andy Hardy film series. She played the title role in "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary" and sang Johann Strauss's "Voices of Spring."

Ms. Grayson was cast in three minor films, including a musical with Abbott and Costello, then played Gene Kelly's girlfriend in "Thousands Cheer," a wartime revue that included major MGM stars.

"Anchors Aweigh," a 1945 hit with Kelly and Frank Sinatra, confirmed her star status. Her bell-like soprano made her the ideal co-star with Hollywood's full-voiced male singers in operettas and other musicals, including three films with Howard Keel, two with Mario Lanza and one with Gordon MacRae...